What Role Does The Night’s Watch Play in ‘Game of Thrones’ Final Season?

Game of Thrones didn’t destroy the entire Wall with its ice-breaking Season 7 finale, but it’s safe to say The Night’s Watch has become somewhat superfluous. All the same, another returning character for the eighth and final season might confirm a fan-favorite’s survival, or at least The Night King’s first target.

You’re warned of light Game of Thrones spoilers from here on out, but even as newly-minted Lord Commander Dolorous Edd failed in his one job to keep The Wall standing, the character may yet serve a purpose in the final six episodes. Actor Ben Crompton seemingly told Chronicle Live (h/t UPROXX) that the stately Eddison Tollett would return for one last appearance:

Eastwatch has been penetrated, that’s the one by the sea, so Eastwatch is broken. Edd is manning Castle Black. I can just tell you it’s brilliant. Honestly, there’s a couple of things there that are like nothing else that’s been seen on telly. It’s been on seven years now, so we’ve got a good dynamic amongst the actors. It can be slow sometimes because of the detail that goes into it. You’re making films basically. It takes time, but the end result is quality television.

Considering Edd made only one brief appearance in Season 7, it’s worth wondering what purpose the character might serve in Season 8. The Night King and his army have already made it past The Wall at Eastwatch, so they wouldn’t necessarily have occasion to confront The Night’s Watch again. It’s possible Eastwatch survivors (cough, Tormund) would hurry west to inform Edd of what happened, or perhaps The Night King would veer off for a little overdue vengeance against Castle Black.

We’ll see what Edd is up to when Game of Thrones premieres its eighth and final season in 2018 or 2019, but what other purpose might the character serve?